I dont know where to start. This week has for sure been the toughest yet.
But first...Emily did WHAT???
I mean I guess its not that surprising..but a helicopter too??? I dont know if I want to laugh or cry at that....
Last monday was normal. Except the whole day I had the strongest impressions that I needed to buy warmer clothes...and print pictures...and write my converts and roommates letters. But I ignored all of the thoughts because I knew I had two more weeks to do all of that. But I just couldnt shake a feeling of...not sure..sentiment..or something all day.
Tuesday we went to zone class like normal.
Right before the opening prayer we got a phone call from president. We ran out of the room to answer it.
Hermana De Leon answered. She looked really scared...and then kept grabbing my hand and looked like she was crying. I was sure someone in her family had died. I was preparing mysef for that when she got off the phone. Then with big tears she shocked me and said "we have a emergency transfer...you are leaving"
I felt like someone had just slapped my face and thrown me off a building. And immediately I was crying. And dear Hermana De Leon was crying. And we were sobbing and hugging and sobbing and hysterical. We both knew we were going to be seperated in two weeks...but two weeks and one day is very different! All I knew at this point is that I was going to a place called Linares and I was going to be senior companion.
We walked back into zone class looking like we had just got back from a funeral. We suffered through the class...quietly crying as all the elders stared weirdly. Then I had to get up at the end and announce what had happened and say bye. I couldnt look at Hermana Tejerinas face at all. I just cried. And looked at all these missionaries who have become my family...and cried and cried and cried.
Then we went to lunch where I had to tell my favorite member family that I was leaving and I cried and cried and cried.
Then we all packed up my stuff the whole day while I cried and cried and cried. I only had two hours to say good bye to everyone...so I could only pick my favorite 4 families. Which was good because I am sure you can guess what I did the whole time....yes I just cried and cried and cried.
At night we tried to have a last little party in our apartment..we bought completos and french fries but I felt too sick and sad to eat. We had a little speech time and my heart broke as I watched my companions cry. And we all just badically cried for the whole time. No one slept at all
Thats pretty much all I need to say. There were lots of tears. I´ll come back to this part later.
We went to the bus station super early the next morning. We had last goodbye hugs and I bordered the bus. Sure that my heart had broken for good. Knowing that since I was going to a place so far away...and my companions have such a short time left on their missions and live in such obscure countries....the chances of us seeing each other again on this earth are very slim. And that is the saddest thought ever!!!
I had a 5 hour bus ride as I was taken out far far away. Basically to the middle of nowhere. A little town called Linares. Right on the edge of the Andes. It feels almost like another world here.
My new companions picked me up at the train station. And we walked with all my stuff to a little old yellow house.
Have I mentioned yet who my copçmpanion is? A gringa...american. And I am training her! She is brand new. And cant speak spanish.
I think the president is crazy. Having me train already. I barely just finished my training. My daughter looked a little scared when she realized her madre had almost the same time in the mission as she had!
I was very scared at first to train. To not have a translator with me all the time. Every morning for two hours she just looks at me with wide eyes and expects me to train or teach her or something. And somehow...I realize that I actually have a lot to say.
We have had some lessons where people say they cant understand either of us. And where I really cant understand them either. But overall it hasnt been a total train wreck.
I think the hardest part is that I feel like I need to be perfect. I need to be the perfect example and teach her perfectly or I am failing and will ruin her mission. But I know thats not really how it is. I just need to work on being patient and forgiving with myself right now.
Also being patient with my daughter.
Because it requires a lot of patience. I dont think any experience has been quite so frusterating in my life. I dont really know how to explain it. Maybe my thoughts will be clearer next week.
But trying to figure out where everything is...who we need to teach..what to teach...and trying to do everyone by myself is hard. Im not really enjoying it too much. But i know it will get better.
So I am in a branch here. And the members really dont like us missionaries very much. But the people in general and very nice. They are much more receptive than in Chillancito and I have lots of hope for this place.
We found a beautfiul family with three cute little boys to teach this week. We taught them the plan of salvation and I think it was the first time I really understood it.
I have always had a hard time with goodbyes. Especially this week having to say goodbye to my companions who have meant so much to me and who have changed me so much. I was trying to get hermana Tejerina to promise to visit me in the states last min before I left. The thought of not being able to see her again was just too much. And she said something very enlightening..."hermana...how many more years are you going to live?
"probably like 70 at the most right?...yes...well than this is just goodbye for 70 years. Because after that we will both be dead and can be next door neighbors in heaven...forever...and we will never have to say goodbye again."
Goodbyes are really hard. Every time we moved houses and had to leave everyone behind it was hard. When I left for college that was hard. Leaving everyone to come on my mission was hard. But here...the goodbyes just seem more permanent. Because they are. But then I remembered what I am here for. To teach people....that because Christ died for us...we can be with our families and our friends and all the people we love...for eternity. And we will never have to say good bye again. Everything here is just temporary and is just a teeny tiny moment in the eternities. We have forever with all these people that we love so much.
And we have them forever because we have a Savior who lived and died for us. And how wonderful is that! And how grateful I am for Him! And how happy I will be when I can walk into heaven and again see convert Maria who always held my hand so tightly during church..who was so scared to get baptized because she didnt feel perfect...who always prays for me and my health. And Carolina...who taught me how to make lemon pie and always gave me gloves to wear because I always forgot mine. And Willfredo...who was the entertainment of my life. And Hector...who spoke english in the funniest way and made so many long days delightfully fun..and gave me chocolate manjar eggs when he knew I was leaving. And Hermana Gonzalez..who opened her heart and home so instantly and made me feel like I had a family here in Chile. And my sweet hermana De Leon...who scared me so much at first but has alwasy been the perfect example of obedience, humility and diligence. Who sang in english just to make me laugh...who would rap as I jumped along the street..who took care of me every time I was sick...who shared her boyfriends love letters with me so I could practice reading spanish....who made me tortillas and ahi and who was always extremely patient. And Hermana Tejerina...who taught me how to really love people. Who inspired me to be the best missionary possible and to love my scriptures. And who made weird soups for me that I now am weirdly addicted to. Who stayed up with me when I was sad or stressed and always told me the truth about my face growing larger.
Yes...it will be a good day. There really arent any endings in eternity...just bright beginnings!
And I am excited to be here...to meet new people who I know I will love. And to have the opportunity to progress through training.
Dont take our plan of Salvation for granted! It is the greatest blessing we could ever have...and one I dont think we will ever comprehend.
Hermana Orchard
